Control means for windshield cleaners



I E. C. HORTON ET AL CONTROL MEANS FOR WINDSHIELD CLEANERS Jan. 18,'1944.

Filed July 18, 1941 v m E 8% s1 15 14913685 0 INVENTOQR Erwm QfiorlronAnton RagpL, ATTORNEYS 7 'BY EL CBwUZ M Patented Jan. 18, 1944 CONTROLMEANS FOR WINDSHIELD CLEANERS Erwin C. Horton, Hamburg, and Anton Rappl,Buffalo, N. Y., assignors to Trico Products Corporation, Buflalo, N.

- Application July 18, 1941, Serial No. 403,057

8 Claims. This invention relates to an automatic windshield cleaningmechanism for vehicles and primarily to improved controlmeans for thecleaner actuating motor thereof.

. ,In current automotive practice automatic wlnd-. shield cleaners areincorporated with the body structures of the vehicle they serve insuchmanner as to render their actuating motors not readily accessibleand certain problems are presented in regulating their operating speedsas vwell as in rendering them selectively operative Fig. 8 is atransverse cross sectional view taken on the line III-III of Fig. 2 and.

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross sectional view taken on the line IV-IVofFig. 2.

Throughout the several figures of the drawing like characters orreference denote like parts and and inoperative. The problem isaggravated by the fact that such windshield cleaner motors are locatedat points relatively remote from theposition of the operator oi. thevehicle.

By our present invention we provide a unitary self-contained controlmeans which may be disposedremotely from the windshield cleaner motor,having connection therewith merely by a pair of fluid conduits. Anobject of the present invention is to provide full remote control means,both as to condition of, operativenes's and as to speed, without thenecessity for any mechanical connection between the control means andthe windshield cleaner motor served thereby.

' According to the present invention allot the valve means involved inthe manual starting or stopping of the cleaneroperation and all of thevalve means employed in automatically and selectively controlling theoperating speed thereof ,is

in close proximity to and in tact directly movable by the manualmanipulating element handled by the operator. This does" "away withextensive mechanical linkages, flexible cables, wires and chains, andlike prior art attempts to eflectuate adequate windshield cleanercontrol by remote mechanical connection. I A single embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described indetail below. It is to be understood, however, that the illustrated formis set forth by way of example only and the spirit and scope of theinvention is not to be considered as limited to the particularform-shown or otherwise'than as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a general elevational view of a windshield cleaner actuatingmotor oi the vacuum operated type in association with the novel remotecontrol means of the present inventionin an illustrative form; v

the numeral ll designates generally a windshield cleaner actuating motorwhich may be of the type embodying selectively connectible fluidpressure ports ior normal operational. the motorand for retaining thesame in a predetermined parked position. Such connections are designatedl l and I2, respectively, in Fig. 1'. Detailed construction of a motorof this type is'not necessary to be set forth herein and for suchdetails reference may be had to United States Letters Patent No.2,209,921,

issued to Erwin C. Horton, one of the inventors herein, and dated July30, 1940. g

The novel control means is designated generally I! in'Fig. l and,referring to Fig. 2 particularly, comprises generally a unitary body ithaving spaced coaxial bearing portions IS' and I1, respectively. Thebearing portions l6 and I! are rigidlyconnected by aportion it of thebody and a portion. of the mechanism is partially'enclosed by a wall l9which extends along a marginal edge of the portion I 8.

Fi 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cros sc- I tional view of the controlmeans viewed as in Fig. 1; I

Adjacent the bearing portion it of the body ii there is preferablyprovided an extension arranged to accommodate various fluid'pressurepassages which will presently bedescribed in detail., The remote controlmeansoi the present invention 'is' arranged to accomplish two desiredresults. One ofthese results is the manual control of the motor ill forstarting and stopping the same at will. 'I'he' other of these results iseffective speed control of the wiper when the latter is in operation.Such speed control is rendered desirable by virtue of the fact thatconventional sources of fluid difierential pressure, either in the formof intake manifold connections or of engine operated fluid pressurepumps, are variable by nature,

The means for controlling the effective degree of fluid differentialpressure will flrst be described. Forthe accomplishment of this objectof the invention the outerend of the body it adjacent the bearingportion I6 is enlarged to provide an annular valve chamber 2 which hastherein a valve seat which is preferably formed coaxially with thebearingportion it. The valve chamber 24 is provided with a movable wallcomprising a pair of flexible plates 21 and 28. The plate 28 has acentral opening for receiving the shank 29 of a headed element whosehead" 30 is retained between the plates 21 and 28. A valve disc 82 islikewise carried by the shank 28 of the headed element and, as shown inFig. 2, is bearing against the valve seat 25.

The movable wall plates 21 and 28 are retained in an annular seat formedin the annular valve chamber 24, along with a cover member 84, as bypeening over the outer rim of the enlargement forming the valve chamber24, see 88 in Fig. 2. The cover member 84 is provided with one or moreapertures as at 81, whereby the left-hand side of the movable wall 21,28 is subject to pressure of the atmosphere.

The valve seat 25 has a coaxial fluid passage 48 which terminates in alaterally extending fluid passage 4|, see Fig. 3. The passage 4| extendsoutwardly through a nipple 42 which may be connected to any desiredsource of fluid differential pressure. In the particular form describedhere by way of example, subatmospheric fluid pressureis incontemplation.v

The fluid passages 4|, 48 continue past .the

' valve seat 28 and the valve 82 in a fluid passage of the body elementi I.

While the valve 82 is shown in the" drawing as seated against the valveseat 25, such valve will. in normal operation, be biased to openposition by means of a compression coil spring 48 acting thereagainst.The coil spring seats at its other end against the end of a threadedelement 58 in cooperation with a ball 5| which is pressed intotheadiacent end .of the spring 48 for centering the same.

Beginning'with the valve 82 in an open position, it will be noted thatincreases in the degree of evacuation of the valve chamber 24will-result in partial closing movement of the valve 82 under theinfluence of atmospheric pressure acting against the outside of theplate 21. v Suchclosing movement will be in, proportion to the degree ofevacuation and the subatmosphericfluid passage 48, 44 willaccordingly berestricted in like degree with the result that. a substantially uniformdegree of subatmospheric pressure will be presented at the port 45.

Reference will now be had to the means provided formanually divertingsuch controlled subatmospheric ressure to cause the cleaner motor eitherto be operative or to be held in parked aasasov extension 28 of the bodymember i8 and extend through the slot 88 and the bifurcation 8i,respectively, to guide the valve 84 in its lengthwise movement.

The passage 14 of the valve 84 is closed at the top of the valve 84 by aflat sheet 85 which in the exemplary form may be a sheet of paper orother suitable packing material. The sheet 85 is held in place andbacked by a plate member 88 which may be of metal" and has a pair ofcars 81 which may be struck from its ends and which engage respectivelyin the bifurcation 8| and the slot 88 to prevent displacement of eitherthe plate member 88 or the sheet 85 which is retained thereby.

The packing sheet 85 and the plate member 86 are held securely againstthe top of the valve 84 and the valve itself is retained resilientlyagainst its seat 48 by meansof a leaf spring 88 whose ends arepreferably bifurcated to engage beneath the heads of the screws 82 and88, respectively. The intermediate. portion of the leaf spring 88 isbowed to engage the top of the plate member 88 and embossedprotuberances may be formed in such bowed portion as at 8| for reducingfriction and for insuring balanced application of spring pressureagainst the upper side of the plate member 88 despite variations inaccuracy of manufacture of the several componentparts. A third fluidport 88 leads'from the valve seat face 48 of the body member 15 and hasa lateral tial fluid pressure supply port with the port 88 position. Thebearing portion l1 of the body l8' The valve 84 has an elongate bridgingpassage 14 which, in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, is

shown to connect the subatmospheric port 48 with a port 15 formed in thebody l5 and extending laterally through a nipple 18, see Fig. 3. Thenipple 18 is intended to be connected to the parkwhich leads ultimatelyto the operating connection I of the motor l8. Such axial movement ofthe knob 88 and the stem 881s arranged to be accomplished withoutinterference with the ad- Justment of the pressure control means. Tothis end the stem 88 terminates in a non-circular axial opening 88 whichreceives, for free axial sliding movement, a similarly shaped headportion 81 formed onthe screw 58 of the fluid pressure controlmeans.

It will likewise be seen from the foregoing that rotation of. the knob88, regardless of its axial V disposition, will transmit rotaryadjusting move-r ment to the screw 58 without, in turn, interfering withthe axial disposition of the knob 88, the

stem 88 or the valve 84, allby virtue Of the yoke connection of thevalve 84 with'the annular groove 8| of the stem'88 through the medium ofthe bifurcation 82. 1

- For convenient attachment of the control device to a position of readyaccessibility the bearing portion l1 of the body member i 5 may beprovided with a reduced threaded extension 88 which may be extendedthrough an opening formed in a vertical instrument panel or the like andse.

cured therein by means of a nut 88.

ing port l2 of the windshield cleaner. motor l8 It will be noted fromFigs. 2 and 4 that in the illustrated form a curved leaf spring I88 isdisposed against the connecting portion i8 of the body member I! withits bowed medial portion bearing against the. periphery of the stem 88.This spring pressure serves to frictionally retain the stem 88 in anygiven position of adjustment axially or angularly. To facilitateintroduction l of the spring I and to insure proper centering and readyretention thereof in assembled position 'a pairof spaced protuberancesIOI are formed thereon and cooperate to provide, in eifect, a depressiontherebetween for receiving the lower periphery of the stem 60.. i

What is claimed is: r l. Fluid, pressure controlmeans comprising aunitary body member having a pair of spaced coaxial bearings and avalve-seating face disposed parallel to said axis, a fluid pressurepassage in a bearing for the common operator opposed to V the mainbodypart and'separated therefrom by communication with said valve-seatingface, a.

pair of other fluid pressure passages likewise in communication with,the valve-seating face, a valve positioned against said face for guidedmovement in the direction of said axis, a rotatable and axially movablemanual control element journaled in one ofsaid bearings and having anannular-groove between said bearings, a unitary extension of said valvecomprising a bifurcation for engagement in said groove whereby axialmovement of said stem effects movement 01' said valve onsaidvalve-seating face to selectively the fluid passage andincluding areciprocable actuating part slidable as well as journaled in anotherportion'of the body spaced from the first portion, said slidableactuating part being disposed substantially onthe axis of the rotatableadjustingpart, and both of said mounting body portions being joined by aconnecting portion offset from such axis, said slidable actuating partextending from its" mounting body portion into the space betweenbothmounting body portions 1 and slidably keyed to the first actuatingpart'for impartingrotary movement to the latter whereby connect saidflrst mentioned fluid pressure pas- Y sage to either of said otherpassages, pressure regulating means for said first-mentioned fluidpressure passage associated with said other bearing and comprising amember rotatable in said other bearing for effecting adjustment of saidregulating means, and means connecting said manual control element withsaid rotatable adjusting member for joint rotary and relative axialmovement. I

2. Unitary fluid pressure control means comprising a body member havinga fluid passage therein provided with pressure responsive means forcontrolling the degree of fluid pressure transmitted by said passage,said passage communicating with a flat valve-seating face provided onsaid body member and a pair of other fluid passages likewise incommunication with said flat valve seating face, rotary means forregulating valve seated against said valve-seating face for slidingmovement in the direction of the axis.

of said bearing and said rotary means and spas sage in said valve forselectively diverting the pressure of said first mentioned fluid passageto either of said other passages, and Ya manual respectively regulatingsaid pressure responsive means and efiecting connection thereof witheither of said-other passages:

3. A dual control for fluid actuated devices, comprising a body having as'ide vface with a pressure supply port and a pair of other portsopening therethrough, avalveslidableonthe face to selectively connectthe supply port to either-of said other ports, saidybody also havinganother face through which a-pressure supply passage ,op ns over a seatinto'a {second passage, communicatingl with the. supply port, athrottling member movabletoward and from the seat to one positionagainst theact-ion of the fluid pressure in the passage, means foradjusting the urge into the space between both mounting body por- I varythe capacityof the supply passage, resilient ;means'acting to urge: thethrottling member in ment of the latter. v

5. A control unit comprising a body ha fluid passage, regulating meansoperable for adjusting the capacity of the fluid passage and including arotatable adjusting part joumaled in one portion of the body, powershut-off means operable for interrupting the flow of fluid through thefluid passage and including a reciprocable actuating part slidable aswell as journaled in another portion of the body spaced from the firstportion,- said slidable actuating part being disposed substantially onthe axis of the rotatable adjusting part, and both of said mounting bodyportions being joined by a connecting portion offset from such axis,said slidable actuating part extending from its mounting body portioninto the space between both mounting body portions and slidably keyed tothe first actuating part for imparting rotary movement to the latterwhereby the rotatable adjusting part provides support for the slidableactuating part during sliding movement of the latter, said powershut-off means including a slide valve having a portion projecting'intothe space between the mounting rocable and slidable part foractuationthereby.

6. A control unit comprising a body having a fluid passage, regulatingmeans operable for adjusting the capacity of the fluid passage andincluding a rotatable adjusting part journaled in one portion of thebody, power shut-oi! means operable for interrupting the flow of fluidthrough i the fluid passage and including a reciprocable ac-' tuatingpart slidable as well as journaled in another portion of the body spacedfrom the flrst portion, said slidable actuating part being disposedsubstantially on the axis of the rotatable adjusting part, and both ofsaid mounting body portions being joined by a connecting portion offsetfrom such axis, said slidable actuating part extending from its mountingbody portion tions and slidably keyed to the first actuating part forimparting rotary movement to the latter,

and spring means supported by said connecting portion and bearingagainst said reciprocable and slidable part to frictionally detainbothit and the rotatable adjusting part in adjusted position.

for controlling the degree of fluid pressure transbearing being coaxialwith said rotary means, a valve seated. against said valve-seating facefor sliding movement in thedirection of the axis of said'bearing andsaid rotary means and a passage insaid valve for-selectively divertingthe pressure of said first mentioned fluid passage to either of saidother passages, a manual manipulating elementjournaled in said bearingfor rotary and axial movement and having connection with said rotarymeans and said valve for respectively regulating said'pressureresponsive means and effecting connection thereof with either of saidother passages, and spring means supported by said body member betweenthe body proper and said outboard bearing and bearing radially againstsaid manipulating element to detain the same against inadvertent, rotaryor axial movement.

8.'A dual control for actuated devices,

comprising a body having a side face with a presn to-selectively-connectthe supply port to either of said other'ports', said body also havinganother face through which a pressure supply passage opens over a seatinto a second passage communicating with the supply port, a throttlingmember movable toward and from the seat to vary the capacity of thesupply passage, resilient means acting to urge the throttling member inone position against the action of the fluid pressure inthepassage,means for adjusting the urge of said resilient means, and a commonoperator for said adjusting means and said valve permittingindependent'regulation of each, said body having a projecting mountingportion providing a bearing for the common operator opposed to the mainbody part and separated therefrom by arr intervening space in which thecommon operator is connected to both the adjusting'means and the valve,said mounting portion comprising a threaded projection for insertionthrough an opening in a mounting panel and a nut for engagementwith saidthreads to maintain the body rigid with respect to the panel.

v ERWIN C. HORTON.

ANTON RAPPL.

